Self-Select Voluntary Separation Program (SSVSP) - May 2012

Pier Oddone

A message from Director Pier Oddone

Today, May 3, 2012, I am announcing a self-select voluntary separation program (SSVSP) to bring our staffing levels into balance with funding expected for the next few years. This is not a step that I am taking lightly, and it is a last resort after we have significantly reduced spending in many other areas.

Prospects for the lab’s future funding look better than they did in February, thanks to recent Congressional actions. These actions by the House and Senate restored some funding to our budget for the next fiscal year, which allows us to minimize the size of the workforce reduction. We still expect to receive an overall reduction starting October 1, however, and anticipate that tight budgets will continue as the federal government continues to confront large budget deficits. I must take the necessary but very unfortunate step of reducing the size of our workforce by about 80 employees.

All regular Fermilab employees will be able to apply for the SSVSP; laboratory management will evaluate all applications based on the requirements of the current and future programs. Criteria for acceptance may include the laboratory’s need for an employee’s skills taking into account retraining possibilities, the number of individuals with the required skills, whether or not the position will need to be filled following the departure of an employee, and documented individual performance. If fewer than 80 employees apply for and are accepted into the SSVSP, we may carry out an involuntary separation phase.

More information on the program can be found on this website, including a timeline for the SSVSP process, highlights of the program, questions and answers and a downloadable package of materials including an application form.

Q. Will an involuntary separation phase be necessary? When will it take place?

A. As announced in June, Fermilab management was able to accept 27 of the total of 32 individuals who applied and did not rescind their application for the self-select voluntary separation program. The involuntary separation process that will complete the workforce reduction has begun, and is anticipated to be complete no later than the end of September.

The involuntary separation process at Fermilab involves many steps that take months to complete. It is guided by instructions from DOE, and Fermilab cannot communicate the details to employees until DOE approval is received in the final phase. The process starts with a detailed assessment of business needs and the budget and resources available in each of the Divisions, Sections and Centers. Next there is a careful review of all positions that have been identified as possibilities for reductions in force. A plan is then submitted to DOE for review, and there are a number of DOE requirements that must be met. Once DOE approves the plan, Fermilab acts as quickly as possible to notify affected employees.

Q. Why are we carrying out the workforce reduction now, when we don't yet know our final budget for next year?

A. We expect to receive a reduced budget from DOE for the 2013 fiscal year that starts October 1. The workforce reduction process is a lengthy one, and to be able to meet reduced budgets in October we must begin the voluntary separation phase now.